ABSTRACT
The struggle between Right and Left, within the Zionist movement as well as the Jewish community in Palestine, is a prominent feature of the history of the Jewish national movement. It was by no means the only — or the most important — conflict, but there is no doubt that it had a profound impact on contemporary events, and as such contributed materially to moulding the two rival political traditions in the Jewish state. The struggle was a genuine political and ideological struggle: a struggle about the future direction of Zionism, and who would lead it. Simultaneously it must be noted that this struggle took on almost apocalyptic dimensions, with a force and a bitterness that far exceeded the bounds of ordinary political opposition or differences of opinion. The propaganda and the accompanying rhetorics created a monster which at times turned on its creators. Even so it was believed, because the prevailing political climate was conducive to its acceptance. It was in the course of this struggle that the mutual images of the Zionist Right and Left were shaped — a Labour image of bolshevist totalitarianism in the eyes of the Right, and a Revisionist image of militant and reactionary fascist nationalism in those of the Left. It is impossible to say whether Zionist history would have been different if relations between the two contending movements had been more amicable. At the same time there is no doubt that they were metus hostilis, and that the mutual hostility and hatred did much to promote the internal unity of the respective camps.
